Following Manchester City’s 3-2 defeat to Cardiff City last Sunday new manager Manuel Pellegrini hasn’t been pointing the finger of blame at his players.

But ahead of City’s clash with Hull City on Saturday (7:45am ET watch live on NBCSN and via NBC Sports Live Extra) he has been speaking about City’s goalkeeper Joe Hart.

England’s no. 1 has had a shaky few weeks for his country and for City with noticeable mistakes creeping into the 26-year-old ‘keepers play. So at a time like this you would expect the full support of your manager to help you get through that sticky patch… right?

Not so much.

“For the moment Joe will continue being our goalkeeper” Pellegrini said. “But I know and I spoke with him and he knows he must be quickly in the best shape again – his top form. I think he is a top goalkeeper. I’m sure that he will do it again.”

So not exactly a rousing seal of approval from the 59-year-old Chilean manager. But with the former Real Madrid Malaga River Plate and Villarreal manager still trying to establish himself as the authority figure at City what did you expect?

Hart should have done better with Fraizer Campbell‘s first goal that put Cardiff 2-1 up last Sunday he misjudged a corner that allowed the Cardiff striker to score at the back post. And just over a week before that he was at fault for Scotland’s opener at Wembley as James Morrison‘s routine shot squirmed underneath him.